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2014 World Cup Betting: Netherlands vs. Chile Picks & Odds

On any other occasion, this would be a
non-issue of a game. Both teams have qualified for the last 16 and all that is
to be decided is the order in which they finish in the group. If this were not
a Group B match, you’d be lumping your money onto the draw and expecting very
few goals indeed.

However, this is a Group B game, and finishing first is very important. Come
second, and you almost certainly face Brazil in the next round. Winning the
group means playing Mexico, or possibly Croatia. Even though one of those sides
drew with the hosts, and the other was arguably only denied the chance to do so
by some poor refereeing, there is no doubting which option is the preferred
one.

It will, therefore, be a game played to
win, at least by Chile. A draw would see the Dutch top the group, but only on
the third choice decided of goal average. Playing for a draw would play into
Chilean hands, though. One thing that we have learned already is that the Dutch
are very poor in defence, whilst the Chilean three-man attack looks to have the
ability to take apart any back four in this tournament.

At the moment, the win market is slightly
unhinged. A Holland win is best priced at 2.62 with Coral, a Chile one at 2.9
with Bet365, and even the draw is coming in at 3.4 in most markets. Whilst the
sensible bet here looks to be for a Chilean win, there is clearly something to
be made wherever you place your money.

There’s also a chance to make some money with your soccer picks in
the half time/full time market, where backing a draw at the interval followed
by a win for one side, or the other will get you 6.75 on Holland, and 7.0 on
Chile, both with YouWin.

First goalscorer markets always carry an
element of risk, because you have so many options. One thing to be wary of here
is that Robin van Persie still features in a lot of markets even though he is
suspended for this game. Without him, his forward partner Arjen Robben looks a
good bet at 8.0 with 888.com, but the best price here is on one of those
Chilean forwards, Arturo Vidal, at 12.0 with Ladbrokes.